The ability to trace the origin of an object back to its source.
In a GOTS context, the ability to trace a GOTS Good as it moves through its supply chain.
The legal entity operating the Global Organic Textile Standard programme; it conducts all activities of the licensing system and is proprietor of the registered trademarks (GOTS Signs). Its founders are: International Association Natural Textile Industry, Japan Organic Cotton Association, Organic Trade Association, Soil Association.
"), GTB will collect and manage data on certified entities and certified products, as well as carry “value added” data for the products being tracked through the supply chain. At Global [Standard](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
") gGmbH, a mission-driven non-profit organization, our goal isn’t profit — it’s impact. The Global Trace-Base (GTB) is being developed to provide greater traceability, transparency, and integrity, helping you drive meaningful change through smarter data capture, analysis, and reporting. By adding GTB as a powerful data system to [GOTS](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/gots "The worldwide leading voluntary sustainability standard for the post-harvest textile value chain for certified organic fibres, covering environmental criteria, human rights, social criteria and business conduct.
") and future [Standards](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/standard "standard glossary text
") of Global Standard, we are jointly increasing our effort to create more transparent and impactful supply chains. We are fully committed to operating GTB solely on a cost-recovery principle. While it may be inevitable that fees adjust over time to reflect evolving operational needs, they are strictly aligned with the actual costs of running and maintaining the system — with no profit element involved. Fees shall be reviewed regularly to ensure that users continue to receive maximum value. The GTB fees have been determined as follows: | #### **Fee** | #### **Current** | #### **Effective** | |---|---|---| | **GTB [Scope Certificate](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/scope-certificate "A document issued to a Certified Entity by an Approved Certification Body which verifies the entity is in conformity with the requirements of the Standard and includes a summary of the processes and products that are permitted under the certification. It also lists the various facilities that are covered under this certification.
") (SC) Fee** | € 15 | 1st December 2024 | | **GTB [Transaction Certificate](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/transaction-certificate "A document issued by a GOTS-approved Certification Body for GOTS-certified products, verifying their compliance with the Standard. It provides traceability by listing product details, shipment information and confirming integrity through volume reconciliation process.
") (TC) Fee** | € 3 | 1st December 2025 [\[1\]](#_ftn1) | The fees are applicable to certificates generated (or retrospectively backfilled) by Certification Bodies: • Directly to the GTB Portal / Interface • System-to-System via API • Manually imported, i.e. csv, xml The Certification Bodies are responsible to collect the GTB SC & TC Fees on behalf of Global Standard gGmbH. Global Standard gGmbH will not charge additional fees for any SC issued before December 1, 2024 and any TC issued before October 1, 2025. The GTB SC Fee is applicable for every new or renewed SC issued by Certification Bodies. The GTB TC Fee is applicable for each TC issued by Certification Bodies since it was run through the system, even if it is later cancelled or invalidated. Fees are NOT applicable for revisions/modifications of existing, valid, current certificates. [\[1\]](#_ftnref1) Estimated date dependent on [volume reconciliation](https://gots.vorschau.website/resources/glossary/volume-reconciliation "Calculation process by which it is ascertained that output volumes of a product’s certified materials are compatible with their corresponding input volumes. Input volume and output volume of the certified material used for a product are compatible if their ratio falls within a given percentage range, which reflects estimated production losses specific to the production process of the particular product, and if the input volume can be demonstrated to have been available on stock.
") 1st release (updated 17th November 2025) 15 April 2025 [ Share this page ](#fs-toggle=share)